Action Against Poverty : Spit to Manly Walk : Saturday, 28 October 06

Join us this year to walk the stunning Spit to Manly track to raise money for the poor in Manado. Just raise some sponsors, invite some friends and join us to walk 10km of one of the most beautiful walks in the world!

Information on how to register and be a part of this great community event on the Upcoming Events page at www.actionagainstpoverty.org.au

Contact Mike Howorth : Em. spit-to-manly@actionagainstpoverty.org.au or Mob. 0418 969 467

Wanted: White Goods

Andy Meier is looking for a washer, fridge and dryer in working order. Please call Andy on 0415 506 151 to negotiate a reward.

REVIVE : New Album Launch : Trafalgar Street : 3 Nov 06

Revive your Soul

Revive are launching their new album "Trafalgar Street" soon and they will be having a launch at St Matts on Friday, 3rd November 06!

Check out REVIVE's webpage: http://www.reviveband.com/

Look at Myspace for a new track just posted up! The track is called "Tears of the Oppressed" and is featured at Track 2 on the album - This new fresh sounding rock song will get you pumped for any occasion! Click on the quick link to be transported!

Street Team: With launches flying up quicker than superman, REVIVE needs your help to get their new album and publicity out there to your churches and friends.

If you want to help out, send an email to: band@reviveband.com with the subject "Join Street Team" and include your name/church and area you want to get the word out to!

Shimmer Regional Womens Conference 2006 : Mobilise

Shimmer 06 : Mobilise

"I'll make you ride high and soar above it all" (Isaiah 58:14)

One Day Conference : Saturday, 11 November 2006

Pittwater Uniting : 9.00am - 5.00pm

To Register, contact Yvette Pascoe on Tel. 9913 2922 or Mob. 0407 807 352
Em. Yvette@timpascoephotography.com.au

General Information: Tristan Fahey on Mob. 0412 583 917

Full Rate: $60.00

Registrations received after 5 November 06 will not include lunch or delegate bag

Key Note Speakers

Irene Gleeson: From a life of poverty and despair, Irene has emerged as one of Australia's gutsiest missionaries, bringing life and hope to the destitute in war-torn Uganda. In 1991, she heard the call of the Lord and moved from Sydney's Northern Beaches to Kitgum, Uganda. From the early days teaching 20 children to write their name in the dust and to sing songs of praise to Jesus, Childcare Kitgum Servants now operates an 18 acre sanctuary to which 4,000 orphans come each day for free schooling, meals and medicine, and to learn vocational skills to rebuild their future. In 2005 a 60 bed AIDS Hospice was opened in order to free children from the impossible burden of caring for dying relatives. As she sees her community, Irene dares to dream that God will enable her to rescue thousands more. Irene joins us, straight off the plane from Kitgum, bursting to share her love for Jesus and her mission to save women and children in His name.

Sheralyn Bucknell: After successfully leading and teaching the women of Pittwater Uniting Church at their annual retreat earlier this year, Sheralyn returns to share her wisdom and her unique walk with God. Sheralyn is well known and highly regarded on the Northern Beaches as a leader, teacher and role model. She has three children and along with her husband has planted a church in Los Angeles, California. Sheralyn will explore with us how we can more effectively mobilise our lives within the Body of Christ. Her casual and witty style is sure to inspire, entertain and challenge us.

Special Guests: From the ruins of post-war Darmstadt in Germany, a small group of faithful believers built a tiny brick chapel with their very own hands as a statement of faith and reconciliation for a guilt-ridden land. In 1961, a guesthouse was opened in Jerusalem, for holocaust survivors. In 1979, the group set out from Germany to establish a sanctuary of worship and prayer in Australia, choosing Theresa Park, NSW as the place where people can experience God's comfort and come to know Him more deeply. We are truly delighted to welcome these amazing ladies of faith and to hear what God has done in their lives and ministry as they demonstrate a daily choice to live by faith, and not by sight.

Electives

Free to Worship: Sonja Howard leads the Dance Ministry at Pittwater Uniting Church. She has a passion for reclaiming dance for Christ so that His girls can be truly free in His presence and worship Him with abandon! In the Free Worship elective we will learn about Sonja's vision and, together with her team, experience an "eyes closed, open to God" style of worship.

Devoted to Prayer: Our special guest speakers join us for a more intimate and practical session on prayer and meditation. If you've ever longed for a more fruitful prayer life and a deeper communion with Christ in the everyday, this practical and informative elective is perfect for you.

Women Mentoring Women: Have you ever wanted wise Christian counsel or the experience of more mature Christian "mums"? Have you ever thought about sharing the experience of your years with one younger than yourself, or wanted to prevent others from learning life's lessons the hard way? If you can answer "yes" to any of these questions then you'll love this elective! This year we launch our inaugural Cross Denominational Women's Mentoring Programme. Come and learn more about mentoring and being mentored and register your interest in one of the first programmes of its kind in Sydney.

Faithbuilders: So often, the lives of ordinary women can inspire and encourage us to step out into new areas of serving God and His people. The Faithbuilders elective is brought to us by women who have stepped out into short term mission work, both here and overseas and have amazing stories to tell. We will not leave unchanged as we hear the testimonies of faith, perseverance and trust from our sisters in Christ.

Job Vacancy : Director - Youth Ministry Development

Director, Youth Ministry Development : African Enterprise Sydney

African Enterprise is a Christian ministry partnership based in ten African countries, serving the church in Africa. Its primary focus is evangelism and ministries of reconciliation. It also has a range of aid and development projects. Outside of Africa AE has a number of support ministries. In Australia, African Enterprise raises support for its partners in Africa and seeks to raise awareness of the spiritual and physical needs in that vast continent.

We are looking for a Director of Youth Ministry Development who will work towards developing existing relationships and building new relationships with youth groups, individuals and organisations. The main objective of the role is to ensure there is a new generation of under 35's eager to be involved in supporting the ministry of AE with their prayers, finances and time. Applicants will need to demonstrate the capacity to maintain existing programs and the initiative to develop new programs that facilitate the building of partnerships that will advance the gospel in Africa.

The role will include raising support for AE’s Africa-based youth ministry teams; arranging and leading our Short Term Missions Program (3-5 week group tours to the mission field); managing our Internship Program (3-12 month working programs for individuals in Africa); and the recruitment and support of volunteer representatives in Australian churches.

This role would suit a person who has a heart for assisting in the growth of the church in Africa and is prepared to travel both within Africa and Australia. Leadership, oral/written communication and organisational skills are essential as well as good computer literacy.

African Enterprise is located in North Ryde in Sydney. Visit our website for further information about our work - www.africanenterprise.com.au

Please phone Andrea Benn on (02) 9889 1799 extension 10, or email andrea.benn@africanenterprise.com.au to register your interest.

Micah Challenge

If you thought 50 cents could save a person’s life, would you spend it? If you believed that five minutes of your time could help provide a village with clean water, would you give it? Most of us would answer, “Yes!” to both questions, so now we have an opportunity to do just that with an “Offering of Letters”.

In our church and in churches around Australia, we help fight global hunger, poverty and disease by giving to our church mission program – our support of AAP for example. But as effective as our giving is; and these programs are, the challenges in the world are tremendous, so we need to get the governments of rich and poor countries to do their part also.

The challenges right now are daunting. Around the world one billion people do not have safe water to drink and every year, 11 million children die before their fifth birthday, mainly from preventable diseases. But it does not have to be this way. Poverty is not natural! There is another way!

Now is the time to move forward in our fight against poverty, to address the structures and systems that maintain & sustain poverty. Micah Challenge is a global Christian campaign that urges decision makers, the governments and the powerful, in rich and poor countries to take more responsibility, and asks them to fulfil their promises to the Millenium Development Goals. This year we are asking our government to increase aid to 0.5% by 2010 to meet our fair contribution in halving global poverty by 2015, and to focus aid on poverty reduction. Right now our government spends 0.30% of our federal budget on aid & only 15% of that 0.30% is actually spent on poverty reduction. We can and must do better. Our MPs and Senators respond to their constituents. That’s where the five minutes and 50cents come in – we need to write them letter today! As a church, together – we can take 5 minutes for 0.5%, to raise our voice, and contact our local MPs! Let’s take the Micah Challenge.

If you are in a home group – your leaders will be given a pack on Sunday 1 October with everything you need to write a letter to Tony Abbott, our Federal MP… Write your letter at group this week and bring it back to church next Sunday 8 October for collection. If you’re not in a home group – see me, Jules Shute, at 1830 on Sunday or email me julieanneshute@accsoft.com.au and I’ll send you everything you need! Or visit Micah Challenge website http://www.micahchallenge.org.au

Gardening Services Available

If you (like me - Vanoosh) don't have green fingers and need a hand taking care of the little patch of God's creation that belongs to you, help is not far away ... or perhaps you might like to give someone a "gift certificate" to give them a break from the garden ...

Brad, a member of our 18:30 Community, has a great little business providing the following gardening services:

* Lawn mowing
* Gardening
* Pruning
* Fertilising
* Mulching
* Rubbish Removal
* Plant selection & Planting

Give God's creation a little "face lift" ... give Brad a call on 0403 606 411 OR
Email: bradfoye@yahoo.com.au

Male Flat Mate Wanted : Bower Street, Manly

Jim Goddard is looking for a short-term male flat mate to share a spacious 2 bedroom unit until mid-December only!

Great location - situated above Manly SLSC on South Steyne. The beach is your front garden! Walking distance from Manly centre and everything else ...

The room is available from early Oct.

Please contact Andy on 0415 506 151 or Jim on 0423 256 770 to find out more!